Check-in and check-out
Check-in runs from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM and check-out is between 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, and there is 24-hour security on site.
Banana Leaf Eco Hostel
A tropical eco hostel with panoramic coastal views.
Float in the infinity pool while the sea and the mountains stretch in front of you, eat Brazilian food at our restaurant and bar, and walk down to beachfront access and the trails that leave from Barra de Guaratiba. Free parking, dogs welcome, multilingual team.
A relaxed hillside hostel between the forest and the sea
Barra de Guaratiba is the quiet, green end of Rio de Janeiro. Banana Leaf Eco Hostel sits on the hillside above it, surrounded by garden, banana leaves and open views of the water and the mountains. Days follow an easy pattern: coffee on the terrace, a swim in the infinity pool, a walk on the coastal trails, lunch at the restaurant, then drinks and conversation as the light drops.
It is a social place rather than a loud one. Shared lounge with a TV, a game room with a pool table, board games, an indoor play area for younger guests, and live music from time to time. Dorm beds and private doubles sit side by side.
- Infinity pool, sun deck and pool bar
- Brazilian restaurant and bar on site
- Beachfront access, trails and wild beaches
- Free WiFi, free private parking, lockers
Four ways to stay
From a bed in a mixed dorm to a private double facing the sea. Rooms are simple, bright and built for the climate. Bathrooms are shared in the dormitories; the private rooms vary, so read the room description carefully when you book.
01Private · Sea viewDouble Room with Sea View
A private double facing the coast: you wake up with the sea and the hills in front of you. Some rooms open onto a balcony or shared terrace. Bathroom arrangements vary by room.
Sleeps 2Sea viewBalcony or terrace on select rooms
02Private · Garden viewDouble Room
A quieter private double looking over the garden and mountains. Suits couples, solo travellers who want their own space, and families booking alongside another room.
Sleeps 2Garden viewQuiet corner of the property
03Shared · 6 bedsBed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory
A smaller mixed dorm with a bed of your own, lockers for your things and easy access to shared bathrooms, lounge and pool deck. Hostel company without a crowd.
1 bed bookedLockersShared bathrooms
04Shared · 8 bedsBed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory
Our most affordable option. Best for backpackers who plan to spend the day outside and the evening in the bar or game room.
1 bed bookedLockersShared bathrooms
A pool at the edge of the horizon
The infinity pool is the centre of the hostel. Its edge lines up with the horizon, so swimming here means looking straight out at the sea, the headlands and the forested mountains behind them. The pool bar is a few steps away, and the sun deck and terrace catch light for most of the day.
Around the pool there is garden, a picnic area and shaded corners where people read, nap or plan the next trail. Late afternoon is the quiet favourite: the heat softens and the colours change over the water.
Around the water
- Infinity pool facing the coast
- Sun deck and open terrace
- Pool bar for drinks and coffee
- Garden, picnic area and BBQ
- Shared lounge and TV area
- Game room with pool table
Brazilian lunch, coffee all day
Our restaurant serves Brazilian cuisine at lunch, cooked with the kind of dishes you would eat in a home in Rio rather than a tourist menu. The coffee house runs through the day, the bar and pool bar handle the rest, and happy hour is available at an extra charge.
Ask at reception for a packed lunch before you head to the Telegraph Trail, and let us know about allergies or dietary needs in advance where possible.
Where the city runs out and the coast turns wild
From the hostel you have beachfront access, walking tours and hiking straight into the hills, and a chain of beaches that stay far calmer than Copacabana.
Trailheads within walking distance.
Barra de Guaratiba Beach
The closest stretch of sand and the easiest swim of the day, with local fishing boats and a slow village feel.
Telegraph Trail
The classic walk of the area, climbing through Atlantic forest to viewpoints over the coastline. Bring water, sun protection and shoes with grip.
Praia do Perigoso
A wild, undeveloped beach reached on foot from the trail network. No kiosks, no services, just the sea and the rocks.
Grumari & Prainha
Two protected beaches a short drive away, popular with surfers and anyone chasing a quieter Rio afternoon.
Roberto Burle Marx Estate
The famous landscape architect's home and botanical collection, right nearby in Barra de Guaratiba. Visits usually by scheduled tour.
Local Seafood Restaurants
Barra de Guaratiba is known across Rio for seafood restaurants overlooking the mangroves and the bay. We can point you to our favourites.
A few honest practical notes
Small details before you arrive, so there are no surprises at the door.
Parking and WiFi
Free private parking on site helps if you drive out to Grumari or Prainha. Free WiFi covers the property.
Pets and children
Pets are welcome with no extra charge. Children over 1 are welcome and guests aged 18 and over are charged as adults. No cribs available.
Bar and happy hour
The bar and pool bar serve drinks through the day; happy hour is offered at an extra charge. BBQ and picnic area for when you feel like cooking together.
Come find us on the hillside
We are on the hillside above Barra de Guaratiba, at the western end of Rio de Janeiro. Write to us in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French or Dutch and we will answer in the same language.
Caminho Chico Buarque de Holanda, 331 - Barra de Guaratiba,Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 23020-270, Brazil+55 21 99221-9483info@bananaleafecohostelbarradeguara.com
Follow the hostel
Day-to-day photos of the pool, the food and the trails go up on our social channels.